Railway switch and signal controlling and operating system.



J. T. CADE.

RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL CONTROLLING AND OPERATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8, 1908.

Patented Mar. 30, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J Gnu/U fiTTOP/YEY.

J. T. GADE.

RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL CONTROLLING AND OPERATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. a. 1908.

91 6,418. Patented Mar. 30, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. T. GADE. RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL CONTROLLING AND OPERATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8. 1908.

UNITED STATEFSZrQTENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. CADE, OF ARCOLA, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO FEDERAL SIGNAL COMPANY,OF ALBANY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION.

RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL CONTROLLING AND OPERATING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 30, 1909.

Application flied August 8, 1908. Serial No. 447,507.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN '1. (Laos, a subject of Great Britain, residingat Arcola, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and use ful Improvements in Railway Switch andSignal Controlling and Operating Systems, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to that class of switch and signal apparatus whichis operated by electrical energy and controlled by electrical means,located in a suitable tower or cabin, adjacent to and connected with theoperatin apparatus.

The objects of my invention are to provide a system in which thetroubles due to imperfect insulation, incident to the use of highvoltage are removed; to reduce the number of wires necessary for controland operation; to provide a new, effective and positive means ofindicating to the operator that the apparatus operated has assumed aposition corresponding to the position of the controlling lever, and toprovide a system in which the. trouble caused by crosses and grounds,common to all electrically operated systems is reduced to, a minimum,and which can be easily located if it occurs. To accomplish theseresults I provide a controlling circuit and source of energy ofcomparatively low potential, say for example twenty volts. 1 alsoprovide, for operating switches, dcrails, frogs and like devices, acircuit and source of energy of relatively high potential, say onehundred and ten (1 10) volts. While for operating signals and the like 1cm )loy the same voltage as that for the controiling circuit. Inaddition I provide a controlling lever, the final movement of which iscontrolled by an indication magnet, the magnet being sensitive to animpulse, induced thcrcin by the disrupting of the switch or signalmotorcircuit. 1 also provide a secondary winding for transmitting thesaid impulse, the saidwinding being arranged in such a manner that ahigh electric motive force is induced therein when the said operatingswitch motor or signal motor circuit is broken. Moreover the impulsewhich provides the indication originates at and eznanates from the aparatus o wratcd, which apparatus is controlled by a icvcr or similardevice of which the indication magnet forms a part and whichis connectedin circuit with the secondary coils.

In describing my invention reference is made to the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a single operative switch unit of the system. Fig. 2shows a lurality of switch units, and Fig. 3 a sing e signal unit.

Similar letter and numerals refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

In Fig. 1 is shown diagrammatically a railroad switch, A, with itsoperating means, B, an operating circuit, C, for the operating means, acontrolling device, 1), and controlling circuit, E. In Fig.2 is shownlike parts and devices, while in Fig. 3 is shown the operating means, B,the controlling means, I), and the source of energy and circuit C.

Referring to Fig. 1 the switch point, 1, is connected with theescapement crank, 2, by the rod, 3. The crank, 2, is pivoted at 4 to asuitable support 5. A traveling nut, 6, is moved from right to left byscrew 7, which is revolved by the motor, 8. This nut is adapted toengage with the arms of the crank, 2, and cause it to swing on thepivot, T, which movement will throw the switch point 1 open or shut. Aprojection, 9, on the nut, 6, is arranged to engage the horns 10 and11-12 and 13 of the switches 14. and 1:": which switches are suitablymounted adjacent to the traveling nut, 6. Blades 16, 17, 18 and 1.) ofthe switches, 14 and 15, are insulated from the switch proper and fromeach other and are. adapted to engage at different times with contacts20, 21, 22 and 23. The motor, 8, is of reversible type and is providedwith suitable iield coils, 24 and 23. The terminal of coil, 24, connectswith contact 20 by wire 26 and the terminal of coil connects withcontact 23 by wire 27. The opposite terminals of the field coils 24 and25 are connected together at point 28 and from point- 28 to brushterminal 29 of the motor 8. is the coils 24- and 2.3 are oppositelywound it is obvious that the direction of rotation of the motorarmature, S, changed each time current. is passed separately throughfirst one coil then the other. -"in operating circuit, C, composed ofwires, 30 and 31, extends from the tower, in which is located thecontrolling apparatus, l), to the switch A or farther, if desired. Asource of energy, 32, is connected to the wires 31) and 31.

A switch 33 and lose 34 are also included lIl this circuit. The arma- 36and 31 to the negative pole of battery 32.

bar, 55.

The other terminal, 40, is connected to contacts 21 and 22 by means ofwire 41. Wires 42 and 43 are connected. res ectively with switch blades16 and 19 am terminals 44 and 45 of a polarized reversing device, F. Thearmature, 46, of the reversing device is arranged to swing freelybetween the pole pieces 48 and 49 and to engage contacts 44' and 45 whenthe reverser is suitably energized. The other end of the said armature46 is connected with positive wire, 30, of the pperating circuit by wire47. This reverser is located at or near the switch motor, 8, andis'connected at certain times by wires, 50 and 51, to battery 52 of thecontrolling circuit E. When this reverser is energized by thecontrolling circuit the armature, 46, will swing over and engage one orthe other of contacts 44 and 45, thus permitting current from theoperating circuit, C, to flow to switchblades 16 and 19, thence throughwires 26 or 27 to the motor, 8, causing it to rotate and move the switch1.

The controlling apparatus, D, consists of lever, 53, pivoted at 54, atapoint on the lever, above 54, and connected to the said lever is a bar,55, which slides on a bed plate 56. In this bed plate is constructed aocket 57, into which a dog, 58, located in t e bar, 55 can drop. Asuitable lug, 59, is located above the bar, 55, in the ath of the upperend of the dog 58. This ug is ada ted to engage the end of the do 58,and orce it down in the pocket 57. T e normal position of the dog, 58,is up and only dro s down when forced by the lug, 59. Be ow the pocket,'57, is located an indication solenoid, 60, a suitable plunger 61 with aT head, 62. If the dog, 58, is in the pocket 57 it will be noticed thatthe lever, 53, and bar, 55, cannot be moved any further. If however theindication coil, 60, be energized the plunger, 61, will lift and forceup the dog, 58, permitting the final movement of the lever and On theunder side of bar, 55, are located recesses, 63, 64 and 65. A safetycoil, 66, is mounted under the bed plate, 56. A lunger, 67, is adaptedto be lifted by this 005 when the said coil is energized, the saidplunger entering any of the recesses, 63, 64 and 65, as the case may be.When this plunger is lifted and enters one of the said recesses it willlock up the bar, 55, and prevent an further movement of the lever, 53.Below t e pivot, 54, and connected with the lever, 53, is a bar, 68,which'is arranged to engage with the upper ends of switches, 33,

70, 71, 72 and 73. These switches are mounted on a vertical spindle butare shown in this form to simplify description. A sinle'contact, 74, isrequired for the switch, 33. ontacts 75 and 76 are required for switch70. Contacts 77 and 78 are required, for switch 71. A single contact 79is required for switch 72 and contacts 80 and 81 are refrom this pointto negative pole of high voltage battery, 32, by wire 87. Contact 79 ofswitch 72 is connected to switch 70 by wire 88. Contacts-7 5 of theswitch 70 and 78 of the switch 71 are connected together and are alsoconnected to wire 50 leading to one terminal of the reverser, F.Contacts 76 of switch 70 and 77 of switch 71 are joined together and areconnected to the other terminal of reverser F by wire 51. The positivepole of high voltage battery, 32, is connected with switch 33 by wire89. A wire, 90, is connected to contact 74 of switch 33 and to fuse 34,thence to wire 30 of the operating circuit C. Contacts 80 and 81, ofswitch 73, are connected to ether, and a wire 91 connects contact 81 witone terminal of indication coil 60. A fuse 92 is included in" thisconnection, and a fuse 93 is included in the connection from positivepole of battery 52 to switch 72. 14 with wire 50 and a wire 95 connectsswitch 18 with wire 51. In Fig. 2 are similar circuits and devices tothose in Fig. 1, for the purpose of showing that the same operatingcircuit and source of energy, 32, is common to all switches or likeapparatus, and that each unit though separately controlled is suppliedby a source of energy, 52, common to all controlling devices. In this,Fig. 2, like designating characters denote like parts, the designatingcharacters referring to one of the units being distinguished fromtheother by the prime mark.

Referring to Fig. 3, 1 is a signal blade adapted to be moved by asuitable motor of which 8 is the motor armature and 24 is the motorfield coil, 25 is what is called a slot coil, the function of which isto retain the signal in the position to which it is moved by the motor8. Adjacent to the field coil 24 is an induction coil 37 which coil ismounted preferably on the field piece of the motor. A polarized device,F, with its magnet coils, 48 and 49, is connected in the controlling andoperating circuit of signal moving device, the armatures 46 and 46 Awire 94 connects switch safety coil 66, also to switch 70.

hold the signal -clear.

mounted to swing freely between poles of the magnets 48 and 49 and toengage the contacts 44 and 45. A switch blade 16 is pivotally mountedand adapted to be actuated by the signal blade 1. This switch blade, 16,will be moved to the position shown in the dotted lines when the signalblade, 1, is operated, but normally is held in the position shown by aspring 3 or other device. This switch blade, 16, when moved will )assover the contacts, 20 and 21, A suita lo cut out switch, 17, is providedin the circuit to the signal motor, which is controlled by the movementof the signal blade 1. This switch, 17, will be opened by the signalblade, 1, upon its movement to the clear position and will be closed bythe blade, 1, on its return to the stop posi tion. The signalcontrolling apparatus consists of similar devices, as described inconnection with Fig. 1, therefore further description here isunnecessary.

The operation of the controlling device and the signal is as follows:considering all parts of the apparatus to be in their normal positions.If lever, 53, is moved in direction of arrow the bar, 55, which isattached to the said lever will slide in the bed plate, 56, the dog, 58,will be forced down into recess, 57, by the lug, 59, the bar, 68, willalso be moved in a reverse direction to that of the arrow and thenotches on its under side will engage with and throw the switch blades,70,71 and 72 which engage contacts 75, 77 and 79, current will now Howfrom battery 52, fuse 93 to switch 70, current will also flow frombattery 52, wire 82 through The coil, 66, being of higher resistancethan the parallel circuit from battery .52 to switch 70, will not besufficiently energized to lift the safety plunger 67, therefore currentwill flow from the switch 70, contact 75, wire 50, through polarizeddevice F, wire 4, wire 51, tocontact 77, switch 71, long contact 79,switch- 72 to battery 52. The current flowing in this circuit willenergize the polarized device F and cause the armatures 46 and 46 toengage contacts 44 and 45, current will now flow from wire 50, wire 94,armatures 46 and 46, contacts 44 and 45 wires 28 and 29 through themotor and 8 and the slot coil 25, wire 51 as above described to bat--tery 52. The motor will now clear the signal blade 1', which blade inmoving will shift the switch 16 to the position shown in the lottedlines 16. As the signal blade 1 reaches the clear position the motor cutout switch, 17, will be opened thus cutting oi'l' current from the saidmotor but current will still pass through the slot coil, 25, and As thedevices cmployed for the purpose of cutting out the motor are wellunderstood to those familiar with the art a detailed description isunnecl essary, inasmuch as no claims are made for such devices. As theswitch, 16, is moved to the dotted position 16 it passes over thecontacts 20 and 21, in so doing a current will pass from the switch 16,contact 20, coil 37, wire 31, coil 60 to battery 52. This current whilesuflicient to energize the indication coil, 60, and lift its plunger,61, does not interfere in any way with the operation of the controllingapparatus, as no indica tion is required for a signal going to the clearposition. long as the lever,53, is in the position just described thesignal blade, 1, will remain clear, as the slot coil, 25, remainsenergized. if now the lever, 53, is returned to its normal position, asshown in Fig. 3, the switches and 71 will disengage contacts 7 5 and 77and engage contacts 76 and 78, the switch 72 still remaining in contactwith 79 owing to the fact that the dog 56 is down in the recess 57 ofthe bed plate 56, and will so remain until the plunger 61 with its Thead 62 is lifted. and forces up the dog 68. Upon the switches 70 and 71disengaging contacts 75 and 77 the circuit through the polarized device,i is broken temporarily thus decnergizing the said device, and when theswitches engage contacts 76 and 78 the current from battery 52 llowsthrough the polarized device h, over the same circuit as before but in areverse direction, thus energizing the coils of device F and changingits polarity, thus causing the arinatures 46 and 46 to leave contacts 44and 45, thereby breaking the circuit of the motor. Current however willflow from battery 52, over wire 51 and through armature R and field coil24 to contact 21. When signal blade, 1, returns to its stop position theswitch, 16, will return to its normal position being pulled to thatposition by a suitable spring, 3, or other device, such as acounterweight, or may be forced up by the signal blade, 1, itself. Asthis switch, 16, returns it lirst engages contact 21 before touchingcontact 20.

have stated above that current flows from battery 52 through motor tocontact 2 1, therefore it will pass through switch l6, wire 94 and wire51) back to battcr 52. The current passing over this circuit willenergize the motor but will" not move the signal blade, 1, as the slot25 is not energized. 'lhis energization of the motor is only temporaryas the switch 16 passes quite rapidly over the contacts. At thciustantthe motor circuit is energized the switch 16 engages contact 26, thusclosing the secondary circuit through coil 37, the field coil, 24, beingthe primary of the induction coil. The making of this secondary circuitwill not cause it to become energized as the primary circuit throughfield coil, 24, is already made, but as the switch 16 still moves itbreaks the circuit through lield coil 24 at contact 21 before it breaksthe secondary circuit at contact 21). 'lherefore while switch 16 isstill in contact with 20 and just disengaged contact 21 a high electromotive force will be generated in coil 37 for an instant. This electromotive force will cause an instantaneous flow of current or at least aninductive impulse to pass over the circuit, starting at coil 37, wire94, wire 56, contact 78, switch 71, contact 79, switch 72, indicationcoil 60, wire 31. back to coil 37. This momentary inductive impulse willenergize the indication coil 60 sufficiently to cause it to lift itsarmature 61 and force up the dog 58, which releases the lever 53,permitting it to be moved to its full normal position. It. may be notedthat while current is passing through the motor, while the switch 16engages both contacts 20 and 21, that current may flow through the coil3. and over wire 31 to the indication coil, but it must be observed thatthese coils are then in series with the motor and therefore. notsufficient current would flow to energize the coil 61). The switch 16finally moves upward until it. disengages contact 20 and thus opens thecircuit through coil 37.

We will now consider that all parts shown and described are in theirnormal position and it is desired to operate switch A. The lever, 53, ispulled forward in direction of arrow, this movement of the lever, 53,will slide the bar, 55, forward until the dog, 53, is forced down in thepocket, 57, of the bed plate, 56, the lever can now be moved no fartheruntil the dog, 53, is again forced up. The movement of the bar, 55,places the recess 64 over the plunger, 67, of the safety coil 66. Thismovement of the lever also operates the bar 68 in a reverse direction tothat of the arrow, and by its engagement with the upper ends of theswitches 33, 70, 71, 72 and 73 moves themto the right, in so doingswitch 33 will rest on contact 74, closing the operating circuit frombattery 32. Switch 70 will disengage contact 76 and encontact 75. Switch71 will disengage contact and engage contact 77. Switch 72 will engagecontact 79 for a short interval and then pass oil the said contact.Switch 73 will disengage contact 31 and engage contact 30. Up to thispoint the apparatus at Aha-s not moved, llowever the switch 72 inpassing over contact 79 closes the circuit of the reverser, l, andcurrent will flow from the positive side of the low voltage controllingbattery, 52, through wire 32, fuse 93 to switch 72, contact 76, wire 33,switch 76, contact 75, wire 50,throu; h reverser and back over wire 51to contact 77, switch 71, wire 83, back to negative side of battery Theswitches 70 and 71 are arranged to engage the contacts 75 and 77 beforethe switch 72 has passed entirely oil' the contact 79. As this circuitis completed through the reverser the polarized armature 46 will swingto the left disengaging contact 44 and engaging contact 45.

The operating current will now flow from positive ole of operatingbattery, 32, wire 89, switc 33, contact 74, wire 90, fuse 34, wire 30,wire 47, armature 46, contact 45, wire 43, switch 19, contact 23, wire27, field 25 of motor 8, contact 29, armature of motor 8, contact 35,wire 36, wire 31, to negative side of battery 32. This will cause themotor armature to revolve and the nut 6 to travel on the screw 7, in sodoing the projection 9 of the nut will engage the horn 11 of the switch1%, and thus throw the switch 14 to its reverse position. The nut willcontinue to travel until it throws the escapement crank, 2, and operatesthe switch 1. As the switch 1 completes its stroke the projection 9 ofthe nut 6 strikes the horn 13 of the switch 15 and throws it into areverse position. In so doing the switch blade 13 will engage contact 22before the switch blade 19 disengages contact 23. As switch blade 19leaves the contact 23 the motor circuit is broken.

The breaking of the motor circuit induces in the secondary windings, 3'7and 33, Which may or may not be wound on the motor lield pieces, a highelectro motive force. This induction is only temporary, in fact lastsonly a fraction of a second, due to the fact that only a single impulseis possible as the motor circuit is only broken once. This impulse istransmitted to the indication coil, 60, as follows: from the coils 37and 38, wire 39, wire 36, wire 31, wire 87, switch 73, contact 36, fuse92, coil 60, wire 84, switch 71, contact 77, wire 51, wire 95, switchblade 13, conta ct 22, wire 41, wire 40, to coil 38. This impulse willenergize the induction coil 60 and its plunger will lift and drive upthe dog 53 in the bar After the dog 53 is lifted the stroke of the lever53 can be completed. The current which energizes the coil 60 also passesfrom switch 73, wire 36, safety coil 66, wire 35, wire 84- to wire 51 asin case of indi mtion coil. These coils 60 and 66 are in parallel buttheir resistances are such that the coil 66 will not be suflicientlyenergized to lift its plunger 67, by the impulse which operates theindication coil plunger 61.. Coil 66 is of say 106 ohms and coil 60 issay 5 ohms. 1f howev or current from the positive side of battery 32should come in contact with 51 current will flow over wire 51 in areverse direction to that just described and would pass through coils 60and 66 in a re' verse direction energizing both cores for the instant.The coil 60 being of low resistance would take a great quantity ofcurrent and consequently thofuse 92 would open. This would cause theplunger 61 to drop. The danger 67 of coil 66 would however stay up,locking the lever against further movement, the circuit through the coil66 not being fused and the resistance being high. The lever would remainlocked until the cross was removed.

It will be noticed that the system is deenergized when the lever 53 iseither full normal or full reversed. If the lever be again put towardits normal position the switch l at A will be operated in a reversedirection and the diil'erent contacts would break and make in the samesequence as before described, but in a reverse direction. Therefore adescription for the normal movement is unnecessary. Although 1 sho w thesecondary coils, 37 and 38, as part of the motor, I can arrange asuitable induction coil outside the motor using the motor current togive the required impulse. It is however more compact and cheaper tomake the induction coil part of the motor itself.

It is to be understood that the system as herein shown and describedwhile operative is not absolutely correct in detail, only such devicesbeing included as are essential to the description, and therefore I donot wish to be limited to the devices shown or to be limited in the useof the system as the same principle could be applied to the operation ofswitches, derails, crossovers and signals, and it should be furtherunderstood that the drawings are only diagrammatical and that thedifferent parts may only resemble the actual devices employed. Theclaims will however be made on new features which embody new principles.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. With a switch or signal operating device and controlling means forthe said device, a device for indicating the position of the switch orsignal, actuated by an inductive impulse originating at the deviceoperated.

2. A switch or signal operating device, means for operating the saiddevice; means for controlling the said operating means, and means forproducing, at the operating device, an inductive indication in thecontrolling means, showing that the operating device has com leted itsoperation.

3. The combination of a switch or signal operating device; a controllingelectric circuit for said device; an induction coil associated with saidoperating device; an indicating device connected with the induction coiland adapted to indicate the position of the operating device, upon thebreaking of the circuit of the operating device.

4. The combination of a switch or signal operating device; electricalmeans for operating the said device; controlling devices for the saidoperating means and means for indicating the position of the operatingdevice dependent upon the breaking of the electrical circuitof theoperating device at the completion of its movement in either direction.

5. The, combination of an electrically 0 erated switch or signal movingdevice; 0 eetrical means for controlling the operation of the saiddevice; an indicating device associated with the said controlling means;a device adapted to operate the indicating means by an induced current;the said induced current emanating from the switch or signal movingdevice. ,and means for generating the induced current; said meansbecoming operative only on breaking the electrical circuit of the switchor signal moving device.

6. The combination of an electrically op erated switch or signal movingapparatus; a coil connected therewith and so arranged that an electromotive force will be induced therein only after breaking the electricalcircuit of the said switch or signal moving apparatus and an electricalcircuit and source of energy for moving the said apparatus.

7. The combination of an electric motor for operating a switch orsignal; an operating electric circuit and source of energy for the saidmotor, and a coil located adjacent to the motor field coils and arrangedto have an electro motive force induced therein upon the rupture of themotor circuit.

8. The combination of an electrically operated switch or signal movingdevice; an electrical circuit and source of energy for operating thesaid device; an electrical circuit and source of energy for controllingthe said operating circuit; said controlling circuit and source ofenergy being independent of the operating circuit; an indicating deviceconnected with the operating circuit and the controlling circuit; saiddevice adapted to be operated by an inductive impulse emanating from theswitch or signal moving device and an induction coil associated with theswitch or signal moving device for generating the inductive impulse forthe indicating device; the electro motive force of the induction coilbeing induced therein by the rupture of the operatin circuit.

9. he combination of a switch or signal operating device; an electricalcircuit and source of energy for the said device; an electrical circuitand source of energy for controlling the said operating deviceindependent of the operating circuit; means connected with thecontrolling circuit for indicating the position of the operating device;said means opera'ting when energized by an inductive impulse due to thebreaking of the circuit of the operating device.

10. The combination of a plurality of switch or signal operatingdevices; an operating circuit and source of electrical energy common toall the said operating devices; a separate controlling circuit for eachoperating device and means connected with each controlling device forindicating the position of the operating device which it controls; eachof said indicating devices adapted to operate when ener iz'ed by animpulse generated by the breaiing of the electrical circuit of theirrespective operatin devices.

11. The combination 0 a plurality of switch or signal operating devices;an electrical circuit and source of energy for all the operatingdevices; a separate controlling circuit and source of energy for eachoperating device and means associated with the 0 erating circuit and thecontrolling circuito each operating device for indicating the positionof the operating devices.

12. The combination of a plurality of switch or signal operatingdevices; a plurality of controlling circuits for-the said devices; anoperatin circuit and source of energy cominon to a the operatingdevices; means associated with each switch or signal operating devicefor transmitting an inductive impulse; means associated with eachcontrolling circuit for receiving the said impulse transmitted by itsrespective operatln device and means also associated with eaccontrolling circuit for indicating that its respective operating devicehas completed its movement; said means being responsive to the saidinductive impulses transmitted by the operative devices.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN T. (JADE. Witnesses:

C. W. BERDAN, J. F. ZABRIsKrE.

